6 Ways To Deal With Curly Hair In Humid Weather

As we all know, humidity can wreak havoc on hair and turn it into a frizzy mess. And on curly hair, humidity is even harsher. That’s because curly hair is more porous: the cuticle scales that form a protective layer around each hair strand don’t lie flat, thus allowing the moisture from the environment to be absorbed into their cortex. This makes the hair shaft swell and disrupts the hydrogen bonds between adjacent hairs. The result? Frizzy, rough and tangled hair that’s prone to fly-aways. Like that wasn’t bad enough, hair, when swollen, is more prone to damage and breakage.

So, what’s a curly-haired girl to do when summer arrives? Here are a few tips for frizz-free, manageable hair:

1. Stay away from harsh surfactants

Curly hair is often dryer than straight hair (and thus more prone to frizz), so it’s important not too use shampoos with harsh surfactants, like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, that could strip too much of the hair’s natural oil, thus drying it out even more.

3. Avoid products with humectants

Humectants like Glycerin keep hair moisturized by attracting water from the environment into the hair. However, when the weather is humid, your hair will absorb too much moisture from the environment anyway. Using humectants on your hair will only exacerbate the problem, not fix it.

5. Limit hair damage

Heat from the blowdryer and styling tools can dry hair and make it prone to frizz and breakage. So, keep their use to a minimum. If you can’t let your hair air dry, then set the blowdryer on the lowest setting and apply a heat-protective serum or leave-in conditioner on your locks beforehand to limit the damage.

6. Beware of the sun

UV rays can dry out your hair too. To prevent this from happening, never leave the house without a hat during the hot and humid summer months. And don’t bother with hair care products with SPF. They just don’t work.

Do you have any other tips on how curly-haired gals can deal with humidity?